According to varying local reports, a fire broke out on 31-meter M/Y Angra between 6 and 7 p.m. on Sunday,September 20, while the vessel was anchored off Posillipo near Naples, Italy.
Local press claim 12 passengers were on board, including the yacht’sowner, Napoli football team chairman and Italian film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis;his wife, Jacqueline, and his son, Luigi, who was accompanied by his girlfriendBrooke and their four-year-old daughter; his seven-year-old nephew, the son ofValentina De Laurentiis; plus two friends and four crewmembers.
Shaken, but unhurt, all occupants were moved to safety on RIBs from theboat to the quayside at Molo di Mergellina. Other reports of airlifting serviceshave not been officially confirmed. It is believed that the Coast Guards andlocal law enforcement, Guardia di Finanza, intervened with a tug from the Portof Naples to extinguish the fire and recover the badly damaged wreck.
The yacht fortunately didn’t sink, according to aleading yacht agent in Naples, who told Dockwalkthat was an important factor for both the environment and the investigationinto cause of the fire, which is now underway.
“Fortunately it all went well. I don’t know whathappened, perhaps a short circuit,” De Laurentiis, who was believed to havebought the yacht in March, told reporters.
According to reports, De Laurentiis was set toattend Napoli’s Serie A match in the area, but it’s not clear whether heattended.
“Naples beat Lazio 5-0 last night at the Stadium SanPaolo, so De Laurentiis did have some luck last night!” the agent added.
The episode reportedly attracted the attention of former Napoli playerand ex-captain of Naples, Fabio Cannavaro, who posted a video of the burning yachton Instagram. It wasn’t until a fan pointed out that the burning yachtbelonged to De Laurentiis that he was aware the disaster affected his formerboss.
M/Y Angrawas built by Costruzioni Navali Tigullio with interior design by Celeste Dell’Annaand launched in 2006. It accommodated 10 guests and five crew.
Aurelio De Laurentiis is a nephew of the AcademyAward winning film impresario Dino De Laurentiis, relatedto the well-known U.S. TV personality chef Giada De Laurentiis, and hasdirected more than 400 films.
While the cause of the fire is still underinvestigation, initial reports indicate the yacht is a total loss.